ST. LOUIS (AP) — Iván Herrera had a two-run double with one out in the 10th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-2 comeback victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
Herrera lined the double to left-center field off Trent Thornton (3-4) for his second career game-ending hit after Lars Nootbaar had a pinch-hit single, JJ Wetherholt walked and Jordan Walker drove in a run on a groundout to third. Herrera was 3 for 5.
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St. Louis Cardinals' Iván Herrera watches the ball as he runs for a two RBI walk-off double during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals' Dustin May smiles as he talks with teammates in the dugout during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals' Ryne Stanek reacts after striking out Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson to end the top of the seventh inning during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals' Iván Herrera is mobbed by teammates as they celebrate his walk-off double during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a two-run homer, his 24th of the season off Luis Gastelum (2-1) in the top of the 10th to put Chicago ahead 2-1.
Justin Bruihl, Ryne Stanek, George Soriano and Riley O’Brien each tossed a hitless inning for St. Louis in relief of Dustin May, who allowed one hit and two walks on 70 pitches over five innings in what could be his final start before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
St. Louis snapped a three-game losing streak. It had lost nine of its last 11 games entering play Wednesday.
Cubs RHP Javier Assad (6-1, 3.86 ERA) has been moved up a day to face RHP Andre Pallante (11-6, 3.77) in the final game of the four-game series.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
St. Louis Cardinals' Iván Herrera watches the ball as he runs for a two RBI walk-off double during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals' Dustin May smiles as he talks with teammates in the dugout during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals' Ryne Stanek reacts after striking out Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson to end the top of the seventh inning during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
St. Louis Cardinals' Iván Herrera is mobbed by teammates as they celebrate his walk-off double during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cue the trumpet. Edwin Díaz is back to close out games for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 32-year-old right-hander came off the injured list Wednesday after missing 85 games, having had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow in April.
“We just got a lot better,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Fans were on their feet cheering when Díaz entered in the ninth to Timmy Trumpet's “Narcos.” He gave up two hits and one run while earning his fifth save of the season in a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. His four-seam fastball touched 98 mph.
“I feel great,” he said. “I think my pitching was really good, velo-wise, shape-wise, I was throwing strikes. So nothing to worry for me. Just keep grinding, keep getting better."
The same song played in the post-game clubhouse, and Díaz loved hearing it again, especially on his first bobblehead night as a Dodger. The team signed him to a $69 million, three-year deal last offseason.
“My family was really happy,” he said. “They told me to send some bobbleheads back to Puerto Rico.”
Díaz came back against the Mariners, who chose him in the third round of the 2012 draft out of Puerto Rico. He made his big league debut in 2016.
Tanner Scott had been serving as the temporary closer. He had 16 saves with a 2.65 ERA in Díaz’s absence. Scott gave up two hits and a run on 14 pitches in the eighth before Díaz took over.
“I was trying to calm my emotions,” he said. "As soon as I got to the mound, it was, ‘Let’s go. Let’s make pitches. Let’s win the game.’ And that’s what I did.”
Díaz is the latest player to come off the IL. Utility man Kiké Hernández returned Tuesday, while two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell could rejoin the team soon. He tossed four shutout innings, allowing one run, and struck out nine on 60 pitches in a minor league rehab start for Low-A Ontario on Wednesday night.
“I’ve been on the sidelines for a long time and couldn’t wait to be back,” Díaz said. “I want to help this team win.”
He was 1-0 with four saves over seven appearances and six innings before being sidelined. Not what the Dodgers had expected when he came from the New York Mets.
“Taking out those bone chips or whatever they were, they looked like shark teeth,” Roberts said before the game. “It was compromising his extension, the feel and all that stuff. He says he hasn’t felt this good in quite some time.”
Roberts isn't measuring Díaz by velocity.
“I’m looking for more of the command,” he said. “At the end of the day, the hitters will tell how the stuff is.”
Díaz made seven rehab appearances, allowing two runs with 11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
“The adrenaline will be there,” he said before the game. “I pitched in seven minor league games, but every stadium, the fans weren’t like they are here. So I’m expecting to be a little more aggressive than I was in the minor leagues.”
To make room on the roster, pitcher Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) delivers the ball against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) is congratulated by catcher Dalton Rushing (68) after Diaz earned the save against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) reacts while earning a save against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) in action during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, April 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
